Copy course contents from Blackboard to Canvas

Instructors are encouraged to create their Canvas courses "from scratch", but we understand that many folks will want to copy their courses from Blackboard to Canvas. 

Follow the instructions below for "Original View" or "Ultra View" in Blackboard.  These instructions will copy Instructor Created content to Canvas NOT student names, submissions of any kind, or Grades.*

Question Pools from Blackboard to Canvas: If you have Question Pools in Blackboard and want to transfer those to Canvas, you need to extract them separately. Learn how to copy your Question Pools from Blackboard to Canvas.

Original View

1. Open your course in Blackboard.
2. Navigate to Packages and Utilities under Course Management in the left menu bar.
3. Click on Export/Archive Courses.
4. Click Export Package at the top.
5. Select all the materials that you want to copy.
6. The exported package will appear as a zip file on the Export/Archive Courses page, it may take 2-15 minutes, depending on the size of the files.
7. Click on that zip file to download it to your computer.
8. Go to Canvas.
9. Open your course site.
10. Under Course Status, click on Import Existing Content.
11. On the Import Content page, from Content Type, select Blackboard 6/7/8/9/Ultra export .zip file.
12. Click on Choose the File and select the file that you saved to your computer earlier.
13. Check All content.
14. Click on Adjust events and due dates so that Canvas can shift your events and due dates from Blackboard.
15. Click Import.

Review your imported content and adjust dates and organization as necessary.  

Ultra View

1. Open your Ultra course in Blackboard.
2. On the Course Content page, open the menu on the right side above the content list.
3. Select Export Course Package.
4. The system asks if you want to include student activity data in your export. Select No because you probably just need the content of the course not the students and their grading information. The grade of record for the course will be entered in Banner.
5. When the export package is ready, the ZIP file appears. Select the file name to download the package to your computer.
6. Go to Canvas.
7. Open your course site.
8. Under Course Status, click on Import Existing Content.
9. On the Import Content page, from Content Type, select Blackboard 6/7/8/9/Ultra export .zip file.
10. Click on Choose the File and select the file that you saved to your computer earlier.
11. Check All content.
12. Click on Adjust events and due dates so that Canvas can shift your events and due dates from Blackboard.
13. Click Import.

Review your imported content and adjust dates and organization as necessary.

Note: The import process in Canvas is the same for both the Original and Ultra view. Please watch the video above on how to import your course contents in Canvas.

*But Wait, I DO want an archive!

If you wish to archive a course on Canvas, including Student names, submissions and grades, follow the instructions above, but instead of selecting "Export Package", select "Archive".  If you need additional "Sandbox" course sites to save your archived course, email SupportDesk@iit.edu and let us know - we'll be happy to create them for you.